Electromechanical systems, methods, orthodontic brackets, and tools for adjusting orthodontic prescriptions of orthodontic brackets with adjustable archwire passages

ABSTRACT

Electromechanical systems, methods, orthodontic brackets, and tools for adjusting orthodontic prescriptions of orthodontic brackets with adjustable archwire passages are disclosed herein. The methods include operatively engaging an orthodontic bracket with an engagement structure of an electronic orthodontic adjustment tool, determining a present orientation of an archwire slot of the orthodontic bracket, displaying a displayed orientation of the archwire slot, and adjusting the orientation of the archwire slot based on the displayed orientation. The orthodontic brackets include a base, a body, a retention structure, a transmitter, and may include an orientation-determining structure. The tools include an engagement structure, an orientation indicator, and may include an orientation-determining structure.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 120 to U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/694,453, which was filed on Apr. 23, 2015,issued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,653,504 on May 19, 2020, and which claimspriority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationNo. 61/984,622, which was filed on Apr. 25, 2014. The completedisclosures of the above-identified patent applications are herebyincorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure is directed to electromechanical systems,methods, and tools for adjusting orthodontic prescriptions oforthodontic brackets with adjustable archwire passages.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Orthodontic brackets typically are small, slotted devices for use duringorthodontic treatment. The brackets usually are configured forattachment to the front surfaces of teeth, either by directly cementinga bracket to a tooth surface or by bonding the bracket to a metal bandthat encircles the tooth, though in some instances brackets may beattached to the back surfaces of teeth. Slots in the brackets, which maybe referred to herein as archwire slots and/or as archwire passages, aredisposed horizontally, or generally horizontally, and are configured toreceive an archwire. Traditionally, an archwire is a resilient, curvedpiece of wire that may be bent and/or twisted prior to installation inthe bracket slots, with the archwire typically extending through theslots of all of the orthodontic brackets that are attached to apatient's upper or lower teeth. Engagement between the archwire and thebrackets creates corrective, or prescriptive, forces that are directedto the teeth by the orthodontic brackets to urge the teeth into acorrect, or desired, alignment, or occlusion.

Orthodontic treatment of a patient's teeth typically requires periodicadjustment of the forces that are imparted to the patient's teeth by theinstalled orthodontic brackets, archwire(s), etc. Adjustments includechanging the magnitude and/or direction of the forces that are impartedto the patient's teeth, such as to adjust the degree to which torque,tip, and/or rotational forces are imparted to the patient's teeth tochange the angulation, inclination, rotation, height, and/or location ofthe teeth in order to move the teeth toward an optimal, or desired,occlusion.

As used herein, tipping forces refer to forces applied to the tooth inthe mesial-distal direction. Thus, tipping forces may impact angulation.Torsional forces refer to forces applied to the tooth by an archwirethat is in torsion within the archwire passage. Thus, torsional forcestend to rotate the tooth in the buccal-lingual or labial-lingualdirection and may impact inclination. Rotational forces refer to appliedforces that tend to rotate the tooth about its long axis.

Adjustment of these forces often is a trial-and-error process thatrequires removal of the archwire from the archwire slot, bending of thearchwire, and re-insertion of the archwire into the archwire slot.Alternatively, the archwire slot may be repositioned. This may includerepositioning by removing one or more orthodontic brackets from thepatient's teeth and re-locating (the same or a different) orthodonticbracket on the patient's teeth.

Some orthodontic brackets permit repositioning of the archwire slotwithout removal of the orthodontic bracket from the patient's tooth.However, this process still may be time-consuming and/or may requiresome amount of trial-and-error fitting. Additionally, adjustablebrackets may pose challenges for accurately determining a currentarchwire slot position, such as with respect to a defined treatmentplan, and/or the degree to which an adjustment in the archwire slotposition accurately reaches a desired position, which also may bedefined by a treatment plan.

Thus, there exists a need for electromechanical systems, methods, andtools for adjusting orthodontic prescriptions of orthodontic bracketswith adjustable archwire passages.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

Electromechanical systems, methods, orthodontic brackets, and tools foradjusting orthodontic prescriptions of orthodontic brackets withadjustable archwire passages are disclosed herein. The methods includemethods of adjusting an orthodontic bracket, which includes anadjustable archwire slot, while the orthodontic bracket is operativelyattached to a patient's tooth.

The methods include operatively engaging the orthodontic bracket with anengagement structure of an electronic orthodontic adjustment tool. Themethods further include determining a present orientation of thearchwire slot relative to a reference orientation at a given point intime. The methods also include displaying a displayed orientation of thearchwire slot with the electronic orthodontic adjustment tool. Thedisplayed orientation is based, at least in part, on the presentorientation of the archwire slot. The methods further include adjustingthe orientation of the archwire slot based, at least in part, on thedisplayed orientation.

The orthodontic brackets include a base configured to be operativelyaffixed to a tooth that is present within a patient's mouth. Theorthodontic brackets also include a body that is configured to beselectively repositioned relative to the base. The body at leastpartially defines an archwire slot that is shaped to receive anarchwire. The orthodontic brackets further include a retention structurethat is configured to be selectively transitioned between a lockedconfiguration and an unlocked configuration. When the retentionstructure is in the locked configuration, an orientation of the archwireslot relative to a reference orientation is at least substantiallyfixed. When the retention structure is in the unlocked configuration,the retention structure permits the orientation of the archwire relativeto the reference orientation to be varied. The orthodontic bracketsfurther include a transmitter that is configured to generate anorientation indication signal. The orientation indication signal isindicative of the orientation of the archwire slot relative to thereference orientation. The orthodontic brackets also may include anorientation-determining structure that is configured to determine theorientation of the archwire slot relative to the reference orientation.

The tools include an electronic orthodontic adjustment tool that isconfigured to selectively adjust an orientation of an archwire slot,which is defined by an orthodontic bracket, relative to a referenceorientation while the orthodontic bracket is operatively attached to apatient's tooth. The tools include an engagement structure that isconfigured to operatively engage the orthodontic bracket to selectivelyadjust the orientation of the archwire slot relative to the referenceorientation. The tools further include an orientation indicator that isconfigured to indicate an orientation of the archwire slot relative tothe reference orientation. The tools also may include anorientation-determining structure that is configured to determine theorientation of the archwire slot relative to the reference orientation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of examples of an orthodonticbracket having an adjustable archwire passage according to the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 2 is a less schematic example of an orthodontic bracket having anadjustable archwire passage according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of an electronic orthodonticadjustment tool according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of an electronic orthodonticadjustment tool according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of an orthodontic appliance systemaccording to the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart depicting methods, according to the presentdisclosure, of adjusting an orthodontic bracket having an adjustablearchwire passage.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION AND BEST MODE OF THE DISCLOSURE

FIGS. 1-6 provide examples of orthodontic brackets 50 according to thepresent disclosure, of electronic orthodontic adjustment tools 100according to the present disclosure, of orthodontic appliance systems 20that include and/or utilize orthodontic brackets 50 and/or electronicorthodontic adjustment tools 100, and/or of methods 200, according tothe present disclosure, of adjusting orthodontic brackets. Elements thatserve a similar, or at least substantially similar, purpose are labeledwith like numbers in each of FIGS. 1-6, and these elements may not bediscussed in detail herein with reference to each of FIGS. 1-6.Similarly, all elements may not be labeled in each of FIGS. 1-6, butreference numerals associated therewith may be utilized herein forconsistency. Elements, components, and/or features that are discussedherein with reference to one or more of FIGS. 1-6 may be included inand/or utilized with any of FIGS. 1-6 without departing from the scopeof the present disclosure.

In general, elements that are likely to be included in a given (i.e., aparticular) embodiment are illustrated in solid lines, while elementsthat are optional to a given embodiment are illustrated in dashed lines.However, elements that are shown in solid lines are not essential to allembodiments, and an element shown in solid lines may be omitted from agiven embodiment without departing from the scope of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of examples of an orthodonticbracket 50 having an adjustable archwire passage according to thepresent disclosure, while FIG. 2 is a less schematic example of anorthodontic bracket 50 having an adjustable archwire passage accordingto the present disclosure. Orthodontic bracket 50 also may be referredto herein as a bracket 50 and/or as an adjustable bracket 50. Bracket 50includes a base 60, which is configured to be operatively attached to atooth 18 that is present within a patient's mouth 16. It is within thescope of the present disclosure that bracket 50 may be operativelyattached to any suitable surface of tooth 18, including a front (labial)surface of the tooth and/or a back (lingual) surface of the tooth. Thisoperative attachment often will be directly to the surface of the tooth,although it is within the scope of the disclosure that bracket 50 may bemounted on a band or other intermediate structure that is secured to thepatient's tooth.

Bracket 50 also includes a body 70 that at least partially, if notcompletely, defines an archwire slot 72 that is shaped to receive anarchwire 40 during orthodontic treatment of a patient's teeth. Body 70additionally or alternatively may be referred to herein as an archwireslot-defining body 70. Because body 70 contains and/or defines thearchwire slot 72 of the bracket, body 70 additionally or alternativelymay be referred to herein as a corrective assembly 70, as the relativeorientation of the body with respect to the patient's tooth to which thebracket is mounted affects the prescriptive forces that are imparted tothe tooth during orthodontic treatment. Body 70 may be at leastpartially, if not completely, housed within base 60, although it also iswithin the scope of the present disclosure that at least a portion, oreven all, of the body is external base 60.

Body 70 may be configured to be adjusted, or repositioned, relative tothe base without detaching the body from the base and/or while the baseis operatively attached to tooth 18. This relative adjustment of theorientation and/or position of the body relative to the base, such as totranslate, rotate, and/or pivot the body relative to the base, resultsin a corresponding adjustment of archwire slot 72 relative to the base,and thereby relative to the patient's tooth to which the base isattached. Thus, adjustment of the body relative to the base changes theprescription that is defined by the bracket, and thus the forces thatare imparted to the patient's teeth during prescriptive use of thebracket. As used herein, “prescriptive use” and/or “orthodontic use”refer to use of a bracket that is secured to a patient's tooth and whichcontains an archwire operatively secured within the bracket's archwireslot to apply forces to the patient's tooth to alter the relativeorientation of the patient's tooth in the patient's mouth. Similarly,“operatively,” when used to describe a relationship between two or morecomponents or elements, refers to the functionality for which thecomponents or elements are designed to be used, assembled, mounted,coupled, etc.

The adjustment of body 70 relative to base 60 is enabled by anadjustment mechanism 74 that operatively couples the body to the baseand permits selective adjustment of the body relative to the base. Theadjustment mechanism may enable, or define, a single axis or plane ofadjustment, such as by defining a pivot axis, a rotation axis, atranslational plane, etc. of the body relative to the base. However, italso is within the scope of the present disclosure that the adjustmentmechanism may enable, or define, more than one degree of relativemovement, such as to adjust two or more of the torque, tip, and rotationimparted to the patient's tooth during prescriptive use of the bracket.As examples, adjustment mechanism 74 may be configured to permit body 70to rotate relative to base 60 about at least one rotational axis, aboutat least two rotational axes, or about three distinct rotational axes.As additional examples, adjustment mechanism 74 may be configured topermit body 70 to translate relative to base 60 along at least onetranslational axis, along at least two translational axes, or alongthree distinct translational axes.

Structurally, adjustment mechanism 74 may define the permitted relativemovement of the body relative to the base. The adjustment mechanism maybe a separate component that interconnects the base and the body.Alternatively, the adjustment mechanism may form at least a portion ofthe base and/or the body, such as by having portions of the adjustmentmechanism be part of the base and/or the body. Examples of structuresand/or mechanisms that may be utilized by adjustment mechanism toprovide the relative movement between the base and the body include oneor more slides, pivots, races, hinges, ball-and-sockets, dovetailassemblies, springs, elastomers, compliant members, grooves, slides,rails, tracks, channels, sliders, ratchets, axles, wedges, etc.

As more specific examples, and as illustrated in FIG. 2, body 70 maydefine a cylindrical or spherical structure, while base 60 may define acavity 62 that is sized to receive body 70. When body 70 defines thecylindrical structure, bracket 50 may be configured to selectivelypermit rotation of body 70 relative to base 60 about a single rotationalaxis (i.e., a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical structure). When body70 defines the spherical structure, bracket 60 may be configured toselectively permit rotation of body 70 relative to base 60 about two, oreven three orthogonal axes of rotation.

Also as illustrated in FIGS. 1-2, bracket 50 further may include aretention structure 80 that selectively secures the body in a selectedorientation relative to the base (and thus relative to a patient's toothto which the bracket is mounted). Retention structure 80 thus may bedescribed as selectively restricting adjustment of the position of thebody independent of and/or relative to the base of the bracket. Theretention structure may take any suitable form and/or utilize anysuitable structure, and the retention structure may be integrated with,cooperate with, and/or function independent of adjustment mechanism 74without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

Retention structure 80 is configured to be selectively transitionedbetween a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration. In thelocked configuration, retention structure 80 restricts relative movementbetween the body and the base of the bracket, thereby restrictingadjustment of the position of the archwire slot relative to thepatient's tooth to which the bracket is attached.

In the unlocked configuration, retention structure 80 permits the bodyto be moved relative to, or independent of, the base of the bracket.However, when in the unlocked configuration, retention structure 80still may resist separation of body 70 from base 60, may operativelyinterlock body 70 to base 60, and/or may operatively attach body 70 tobase 60. The locked configuration additionally or alternatively may bereferred to as a secured configuration and/or an operativeconfiguration. The unlocked configuration additionally or alternativelymay be referred to as an adjustment configuration and/or a releasedconfiguration. When the retention structure is in the locked or unlockedconfiguration, orthodontic bracket 50 additionally or alternatively maybe referred to herein as being in the locked or unlocked configuration.

Retention structure 80 may include any suitable structure that isconfigured to transition between the locked configuration and theunlocked configuration, that is configured to selectively maintain theorientation of the archwire slot relative to the base (i.e., when in thelocked configuration), that is configured to selectively permit theorientation of the archwire slot to be varied (i.e., when in theunlocked configuration), and/or that is configured to (at leastselectively) retain body 70 operatively attached to base 60. Examples ofretention structure 80 include any suitable pin, latch, clasp, wedge,fastener, cam, receptacle, etc.

Bracket 50 further may include at least one ligature 52 that isconfigured to retain archwire 40 within archwire slot 72. Ligature 52may include any suitable structure that may, or that may be utilized to,retain the archwire within the archwire slot. This may include anysuitable ligating structure that is configured to be operativelyattached and/or affixed to base 60 and/or to body 70, such as anelastomeric band, as well as any suitable ligating structure that formsa portion of bracket 50, such as when bracket 50 is a self-ligatingbracket 50.

Orthodontic bracket 50, which is schematically illustrated in FIGS. 1-2,may have any suitable shape, size, and/or components for receiving anarchwire into an archwire slot of the bracket to impart prescriptiveforces to a patient's teeth during orthodontic use of the bracket. Asdiscussed, bracket 50 is an adjustable orthodontic bracket 50. This mayinclude any suitable orthodontic bracket that is adapted, configured,designed, and/or constructed to permit adjustment of the orientation ofarchwire slot 72 relative to a reference orientation thereof, relativeto base 60, relative to tooth 18, relative to another tooth that may bepresent within patient's mouth 16, and/or relative to anotherorthodontic bracket that may be present within patient's mouth 16.Additionally or alternatively, this also may include any suitableorthodontic bracket that may be configured to permit adjustment of theorientation of the archwire slot without separation of the bracket fromthe tooth.

Bracket 50 also may, but is not required to, include additionalcomponents, regions, and/or features that are conventional toorthodontic bracket bases/bodies/housings, such as appropriately shapedand/or contoured tooth-contacting surfaces, tie wings, or other suitablemounts for ligating structures, such as ligatures, orthodontic chains,powerchains, springs, elastic bands, and the like. In this regard,examples of orthodontic brackets and bracket assemblies, as well ascomponents and uses thereof, and accessories therefor, are disclosed inU.S. Pat. No. 8,337,198, in U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos.2012/0308952, 2011/0183280, and 2014/0272751 in U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 61/913,122, and in U.S. patent application Ser. Nos.14/559,100 and 14/215,237, the complete disclosures of which are herebyincorporated by reference. These and the subsequently incorporatedpatent references additionally or alternatively disclose optionaladditional structures, features, components, and the like that may beused with brackets 50 according to the present disclosure (so long asdoing so does not impair the operation and functionality expresslypresented herein).

Additional examples of ligating orthodontic brackets are disclosed inU.S. Pat. Nos. 6,302,688, 6,582,226, 4,597,739, 4,878,840, 3,772,787,4,248,588, 4,492,573, 4,614,497, 4,698,017, 1,280,628, 1,821,171, and3,435,527, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated byreference. Examples of self-ligating orthodontic brackets are disclosedin U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,659,766, 6,655,957, 6,358,045, 6,193,508, 5,857,850,5,711,666, 5,562,444, 5,322,435, 5,094,614, 4,559,012, 4,531,911,4,492,573, 4,419,078, 4,371,337, 4,077,126, 4,144,642, 4,248,588,4,698,017, 3,772,787, 4,561,844, 4,655,708, 4,197,642, 4,712,999, and4,171,568, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated byreference. Still further additional examples of orthodontic brackets aredisclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,819,660, 7,771,640, and 6,632,088, thedisclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference. Thestructures, features, applications, and methods of the above-identifiedreferences may be utilized with and/or incorporated into brackets 50according to the present disclosure to the extent that doing so does notconflict with the express provisions of the present disclosure.

A bracket 50 according to the present disclosure may include (but is notrequired in all embodiments to include) an orientation-determiningstructure 90 and/or a transmitter 98. Orientation-determining structure90 may be configured to detect and/or otherwise determine theorientation of archwire slot 72. This may include direct and/or indirectdetermination of the orientation of the archwire slot. Additionally oralternatively, this also may include determination of an absoluteorientation of the archwire slot and/or determination of a relativeorientation of the archwire slot, such as relative to a referenceorientation thereof.

Transmitter 98 may be configured to generate an orientation indicationsignal 99 that may be indicative of the orientation of the archwire slotrelative to the reference orientation, such as may be determined byorientation-determining structure 90.

As discussed in more detail herein, orientation indication signal 99 maybe utilized to determine, evaluate, correct, modify, and/or confirm anorthodontic treatment plan for the patient. For example, the orientationindication signal may be utilized to confirm that an archwire slot, oran archwire, is in a selected, or expected, orientation according to anexisting treatment plan and/or responsive to a prior orthodonticadjustment. As another example, the orientation indication signal may beutilized to develop an original and/or updated/corrected orthodontictreatment plan for the patient, such as with the orientation indicatedby the signal being evaluated, analyzed, compared to stored and/orpreviously obtained inputs, compared to expected inputs, inputted intoprescription-defining software, inputted intoorthodontic-bracket/tool/accessory-creating devices, etc. Theorientation indication signal from a bracket 50 may be analyzed and/orotherwise utilized independent of the corresponding signals 99 fromadditional brackets 50 within the patient's mouth. Additionally oralternatively, the signals 99 from a plurality of brackets 50 may beanalyzed or otherwise utilized together and/or concurrently.

Orientation-determining structure 90 may include any suitable structurethat may be adapted, configured, designed, and/or constructed todetermine the orientation of archwire slot 72, directly and/orindirectly. This may include any structure that may determine theabsolute orientation of the archwire slot and/or the orientation of thearchwire slot relative to the reference orientation thereof, relative tobase 60, and/or relative to tooth 18. The orientation of the archwireslot additionally or alternatively may be referred to the position,relative position, rotational position, axial position, translationalposition, absolute position, etc. An example of an indirectdetermination includes determining the orientation of the body of thebracket relative to the base or other reference orientation, from whichthe orientation of the archwire passage is obtained due to the archwirepassage extending in a defined, or fixed, orientation within the body.

As an example, orientation-determining structure 90 may include and/orbe a rotation-determining structure that may be configured to determinea rotation of body 70 relative to base 60 to determine the orientationof archwire slot 72. This may include determining the rotation of body70 relative to base 60 about the at least one rotational axis, about theat least two rotational axes, and/or about the three distinct rotationalaxes.

Additionally or alternatively, orientation-determining structure 90 mayinclude and/or be a translation-determining structure that may beconfigured to determine a translation of body 70 relative to base 60 todetermine the orientation of archwire slot 72. This may includedetermining the translation of body 70 relative to base 60 along the atleast one translational axis, along the at least two translational axes,and/or along the three distinct translational axes.

As a more specific example, and as illustrated in FIG. 2,orientation-determining structure 90 may include one or more magnets 92and at least one sensor 94. Sensor 94 may be configured to detectmagnets 92 (or a location thereof and/or a proximity thereto) todetermine the orientation of archwire slot 72 relative to the referenceorientation. However, this is but a single example, and it is within thescope of the present disclosure that any suitable structure and/ordevices may be utilized as, and/or as a part of, theorientation-determining structure 90. Thus, orientation-determiningstructure 90 may utilize any suitable sensor, detector, emitter,comparator, mechanism, inductor, capacitor, strain gauge, etc. todetermine the orientation of the body relative to the base.

Returning more generally to FIGS. 1-2, the orientation of archwire slot72 may be established and/or determined relative to any suitablereference orientation, and the reference orientation may be establishedand/or defined in any suitable manner. As examples, the referenceorientation may be defined relative to base 60, relative to tooth 18,relative to a base of another bracket that is present within thepatient's mouth 16, relative to another tooth that is present within thepatient's mouth, relative to another archwire slot that is defined bythe other bracket, and/or relative to a present and/or prior orientationof the archwire slot.

As another example, orthodontic bracket 50 may define a home position,and the reference orientation may be defined relative to, or may be, thehome position. The home position may be any suitable position of body 70relative to base 60. As examples, body 70 may define a range-of-motionrelative to base 60, and the home position may be defined at an extremeof the range-of-motion or as a central point within the range-of-motion.

It is within the scope of the present disclosure that bracket 50 mayinclude one or more visual indicators 96 that may visibly indicate whenthe bracket is in the home position. Examples of visual indicators 96include any suitable coloration, gradation, line, crosshair, and/oralignment structure that may visually indicate that bracket 50 is (or isnot) in the home position. Body 70 optionally may be biased to the homeposition, such as to automatically be urged toward and/or to the homeposition when the retention structure is in an unlocked configuration.

Bracket 50 additionally or alternatively may include a physical, ortactile, indicator 97 that frictionally urges, or is configured tofrictionally urge, the body to stop further adjustment in a givendirection when forces are imparted to the body to move the body to, andpotentially beyond, the home position. Thus, this increased friction maybe felt or otherwise detected to indicate the home position. Anysuitable projection, rib, index, detent, surface treatment, etc. may beutilized to provide such a tactile indicator.

Transmitter 98 may include any suitable structure that may be configuredto generate orientation indication signal 99. As examples, transmitter90 may include and/or be a wireless transmitter, a Bluetooth (and/orBluetooth LE) transmitter, an RFID transmitter, an RFID tag, a digitaltransmitter, an analog transmitter, an active transmitter, a passivetransmitter, a passive transponder, and/or an optical transmitter. Thetransmitter may transmit any suitable orientation indication signal,including a wireless orientation indication signal and/or a wiredorientation indication signal. When the orientation indication signalincludes the wired orientation indication signal, transmitter 90 may beconfigured to directly connect to bracket 50 and/or to transfer thewired orientation signal from the bracket to the electronic device viaany suitable electrical and/or communication linkage.

As discussed in more detail herein, transmitter 98 may be configured totransmit orientation indication signal 99 to an electronic device thatmay be utilized with, and/or may form a portion of, an overallorthodontic appliance system 20 that includes bracket 50. Examples ofthe electronic device include any suitable computer, laptop computer,desktop computer, tablet, computerized orthodontic machine or system,computing device, handheld electronic device, wearable electronicdevice, and/or electronic orthodontic adjustment tool.

As illustrated in dashed lines in FIGS. 1-2, bracket 50 optionally mayinclude a receiver 76 and/or a drive structure 78. Receiver 76 may beconfigured to receive an orientation control signal 77, which also maybe referred to herein as a desired orientation signal 77, from anysuitable source. This may include receiving the orientation controlsignal from another component of orthodontic appliance system 20, suchas the electronic device, as discussed in more detail herein.

Regardless of the source of orientation control signal 77, receiver 76may be configured to convey the orientation control signal to drivestructure 78. Drive structure 78 then may be configured to selectivelyregulate, produce, and/or otherwise enable relative motion between body70 and base 60 such that the orientation of the archwire slot relativeto the reference orientation (or the orientation of body 70 relative tobase 60) is varied. This variation may be based, at least in part, onthe orientation control signal. Stated another way, and upon receipt ofthe orientation control signal, drive structure 78 may be configured tochange the orientation of the archwire slot such that the orientation ofthe archwire slot corresponds to a desired orientation, with the desiredorientation being indicated by the orientation control signal.

Drive structure 78 may include and/or be in communication with anysuitable actuator and/or power source, which may be an electrical powersource and/or a battery. The actuator may include an electronic actuatorand/or a piezoelectric actuator, as examples. Drive structure 78optionally may include any suitable motor, gear assembly, piston(s),pump(s), bladder(s), etc. As indicated in dash-dot lines in FIG. 2, atleast a portion of the drive structure, when present, may be externalthe bracket and in communication with the bracket when the drivestructure is utilized to adjust the orientation of the body. Forexample, at least a power source, actuator, and/or motor may beselectively connected to the bracket when the drive structure is to beused to adjust the orientation of the archwire slot and/or body relativeto the base or other reference location. Other portions of the drivestructure optionally may be part of the bracket that are not selectivelyremoved, such as gears, fluid conduits, clutches, catches, etc.

FIGS. 3-4 are schematic representations of electronic orthodonticadjustment tools 100 according to the present disclosure. Electronicorthodontic adjustment tool 100 also may be referred to herein as anorthodontic adjustment tool 100, as an automatic adjustment tool 100, asan adjustment tool 100, and/or as a tool 100. Tool 100 may be adapted,configured, designed, sized, and/or constructed to selectively adjust anorientation of an archwire slot 72 that is defined by an orthodonticbracket 50. This may include adjusting the orientation of the archwireslot relative to a reference orientation thereof, as discussed herein.

Tool 100 may form a portion of and/or be utilized with an orthodonticappliance system 20 that includes and/or utilizes brackets 50 of FIGS.1-2. Thus, brackets 50 of FIGS. 3-4 may include and/or utilize anysuitable structure, function, and/or feature that is discussed hereinwith reference to brackets 50 of FIGS. 1-2. However, this is notrequired. As examples, tool 100 may be used with adjustable orthodonticbrackets that do not include and/or utilize orientation-determiningstructure 90, transmitter 98, receiver 76, and/or drive structure 78.

Tool 100 includes an engagement structure 110. Engagement structure 110may be configured to directly operatively engage orthodontic bracket 50and/or to indirectly operatively engage orthodontic bracket 50 toselectively adjust the orientation of the archwire slot. This mayinclude operative engagement with any suitable portion of orthodonticbracket 50 and/or of archwire 40. As an example, and as illustrated inFIG. 3, engagement structure 110 may be configured to be inserted into(or to directly and operatively engage) archwire slot 72. This mayinclude insertion of the engagement structure into the archwire slotsubsequent to removal of a corresponding archwire from the archwire slotand/or while the corresponding archwire extends within the archwireslot.

As another example, engagement structure 110 may engage any suitableportion and/or surface of body 70. Examples of suitable portions of body70 include an edge, edge regions, and/or perimeter of the body, one ormore sockets on and/or that extend within the body, one or morereceivers on/in the body, etc.

As yet another example, and as illustrated in FIG. 4, engagementstructure 110 may be configured to directly and operatively engagearchwire 40 while archwire 40 extends within archwire slot 72. Underthese conditions, engagement structure 110 may be referred to herein asindirectly and operatively engaging orthodontic bracket 50.

Engagement structure 110 may include and/or be any suitable structurethat is configured to operatively engage bracket 50. As examples, theengagement structure may include and/or be a projection that extendsfrom tool 100, a replaceable engagement structure, a removableengagement structure, an autoclavable engagement structure, and/or aresilient engagement structure.

As illustrated in dashed lines in FIGS. 3-4, tool 100 further mayinclude an engagement indicator 120. Engagement indicator 120 may beconfigured to selectively indicate when tool 100 (or engagementstructure 110 thereof) is engaged with, operatively engaged with, and/orproperly engaged with orthodontic bracket 50 and/or with archwire 40.This may include providing feedback to indicate the engagement of tool100 and bracket 50. As an example, engagement indicator 120 may includeand/or be an engagement indicator LED 122 that may be configured toselectively change color and/or to selectively transition between an onstate and an off state responsive to engagement of tool 100 with bracket50.

As another example, engagement indicator 120 may include and/or be anengagement transmitter 124 that is configured to generate and/ortransmit an engagement indication signal 126 responsive to tool 100being engaged with orthodontic bracket 50. When engagement indicator 120generates engagement indication signal 126, the engagement indicationsignal may be received by an electronic device 30 that forms a portionof an overall orthodontic appliance system 20, as discussed herein.Examples of engagement transmitter 124 include any suitable wirelesstransmitter and/or Bluetooth transmitter.

As also illustrated in dashed lines in FIGS. 3-4, tool 100 further mayinclude an orientation-determining structure 130.Orientation-determining structure 130 may be adapted, configured,designed, and/or constructed to determine the orientation of archwireslot 72 when tool 100 is operatively engaged with bracket 50. This mayinclude determining the orientation of the archwire slot relative to thereference orientation thereof and may be accomplished in any suitablemanner, including those disclosed herein.

As further illustrated in dashed lines in FIGS. 3-4, tool 100 also mayinclude an orientation transmitter 140. Orientation transmitter 140 maybe configured to generate an orientation indication signal 142 that isindicative of the orientation of archwire slot 72. The orientationtransmitter may include and/or be any suitable structure, such as awireless transmitter, a Bluetooth transmitter, and/or a wiredtransmitter. When tool 100 includes orientation transmitter 140, theorientation transmitter may be configured to transmit the orientationindication signal to an electronic device that is utilized with and/orforms a portion of an overall orthodontic appliance system 20, asdiscussed herein.

The orientation transmitter 140 may transmit any suitable orientationindication signal 142, including a wireless orientation indicationsignal and/or a wired orientation indication signal. When theorientation indication signal includes the wired orientation indicationsignal, transmitter 90 may be configured to directly connect to bracket50 and/or to transfer the wired orientation signal from the bracket tothe electronic device via any suitable electrical and/or communicationlinkage.

Also as illustrated in dashed lines in FIGS. 3-4, tool 100 also mayinclude an orientation receiving structure 150. Orientation receivingstructure 150 may be configured to receive an orientation indicationsignal 99. The orientation indication signal may be generated by anysuitable source, such as by bracket 50, as discussed herein.

As further illustrated in dashed lines in FIG. 3, tool 100 also mayinclude and/or communicate with an orientation indicator 160.Orientation indicator 160 may be configured to indicate the orientationof archwire slot 72 and/or the orientation of the archwire slot relativeto the reference orientation.

Orientation indicator 160 may include any suitable structure. As anexample, orientation indicator 160 may include and/or be a display 162.Display 162 may display any suitable orientation, orientationinformation, and/or parameter that is, or that is indicative of, theorientation of the archwire slot and/or the orientation of the archwireslot relative to the reference orientation. As an example, display 162may display a present orientation of the archwire slot. As anotherexample, display 162 may display an orientation difference, ororientation delta, that is indicative of a difference between thepresent orientation of the archwire slot and a desired orientation ofthe archwire slot. As yet another example, display 162 may display anorientation difference that is indicative of a difference between thepresent orientation of the archwire slot and an initial orientation ofthe archwire slot. As more specific examples, display 162 may display atip parameter that is indicative of a tip force that will be applied tothe tooth by an archwire for a given relative orientation of archwireslot 72, a torque parameter that is indicative of a torque force thatwill be applied to the tooth by an archwire for a given relativeorientation of archwire slot 72, and/or a rotation parameter that isindicative of a rotation force that will be applied to the tooth by anarchwire for a given relative orientation of archwire slot 72.

As used herein, the phrase, “indicative of” may be interpreted to meanthat a given process, parameter, variable, and/or value (such asinformation that may be displayed by display 162) is correlated to, isbased upon, corresponds to, and/or is associated with another process,parameter, variable, and/or value (such as the forces that will beapplied to the tooth by the archwire). As an example, display 162 maydisplay the actual force(s) that will be applied to the tooth by thearchwire. As another example, display 162 may display an angle of thearchwire slot, with this angle corresponding to a given bend of thearchwire and therefore to the actual force(s) that will be applied tothe tooth by the archwire when the archwire extends within the archwireslot.

Tool 100 may be configured to receive an orientation control signal 77that is indicative of a desired orientation of the archwire slot. Underthese conditions, orientation indicator 160 may be configured toindicate when the archwire slot is at the desired orientation. As anexample, orientation indicator 160 may include and/or be an orientationindicator LED 164 that may be configured to selectively change colorand/or to selectively transition between an on state and an off state(or vice versa) to indicate when the archwire slot is at the desiredorientation. Additionally or alternatively, orientation indicator 160also may be configured to emit a vibration and/or to emit a sound whenthe archwire slot is at the desired orientation.

As also illustrated in dashed lines in FIG. 3, tool 100 further mayinclude a drive structure 170. Drive structure 170 may be configured toselectively regulate and/or change the orientation of archwire slot 72when tool 100 is operatively engaged with bracket 50. As examples, drivestructure 170 may regulate the orientation of the archwire slot based,at least in part, on orientation indication signal 142, orientationcontrol signal 77, a comparison of orientation indication signal 142 toorientation control signal 77, and/or a comparison of a currentorientation of the archwire slot to a desired orientation of thearchwire slot.

Drive structure 170 may include and/or be any suitable structure. Asexamples, drive structure 170 may include an actuator, an electronicactuator, an electric motor, and/or a piezoelectric actuator.

As illustrated in dashed lines in FIGS. 3-4, tool 100 also may include amount 180 that is configured to operatively attach tool 100 toelectronic device 30, when utilized. Mount 180 may include and/or be amechanical mount 180 that is configured to mechanically interlock tool100 and electronic device 30, such as to facilitate concurrent useand/or handling thereof.

Additionally or alternatively, mount 180 also may include and/or be acommunication mount 180 that is configured to transfer one or moresignals, such as orientation control signal 77, orientation indicationsignal 99, engagement indication signal 126, and/or orientationindication signal 142 between tool 100 and electronic device 30. Underthese conditions, mount 180 may include one or more communicationconduits 182.

FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of an orthodontic appliance system20 according to the present disclosure. Orthodontic appliance system 20includes an orthodontic bracket 50. In addition, orthodontic appliancesystem 20 also includes an electronic device 30 and/or an electronicorthodontic adjustment tool 100. Bracket 50 of FIG. 5 may include anysuitable structure, function, and/or feature of brackets 50 of FIGS.1-2. Similarly, tool 100 of FIG. 5 may include any suitable structure,function, and/or feature of tool 100 of FIGS. 3-4.

When system 20 includes electronic device 30, electronic device 30 maybe configured to receive an orientation indication signal 99 frombracket 50 and/or to provide an orientation control signal 77 to bracket50. When system 20 includes tool 100, bracket 50 may be configured toprovide orientation indication signal 99 to tool 100. When system 20includes both electronic device 30 and tool 100, electronic device 100also may be configured to receive an orientation indication signal 142from tool 100 and/or to provide orientation control signal 77 to tool100.

Electronic device 30 and/or tool 100 may utilize the respective signalsto adjust the relative orientation of archwire slot 72 and/or tocontrol, regulate, and/or direct adjustment of the relative orientationof the archwire slot. This may include adjusting the orientation of thearchwire slot by performing methods 200, which are discussed in moredetail herein. Examples of electronic device 30 are disclosed herein.

Additionally or alternatively, electronic device 30 may include adisplay 32 that may be utilized by an orthodontist, or other orthodonticpractitioner, while performing an orthodontic treatment utilizing system20. As an example, display 32 may be configured to indicate and/or todisplay a current orientation 34 of a given archwire slot 72 and/or aparameter that is indicative of the current orientation of the givenarchwire slot. As another example, display 32 additionally oralternatively may be configured to indicate and/or to display a desiredorientation 36 of the given archwire slot and/or a parameter that isindicative of the desired orientation of the given archwire slot.

As yet another example, display 32 additionally or alternatively may beconfigured to indicate and/or to display an orientation difference 38 ofthe given archwire slot and/or a parameter that is indicative of theorientation difference of the archwire slot. Orientation difference 38also may be referred to herein as an orientation delta 36 and may bebased upon, or may be, a difference between the desired orientation ofthe given archwire slot and the current orientation of the archwireslot. As another example, display 32 additionally or alternatively maybe configured to indicate and/or to display an indicator 39. Indicator39 may be configured to indicate when the given archwire slot reachesthe desired orientation thereof.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart depicting methods 200, according to the presentdisclosure, of adjusting an orientation of an orthodontic bracket, whichincludes an archwire slot, while the orthodontic bracket is operativelyattached to a patient's tooth. Methods 200 may include removing anarchwire from the archwire slot at 210 and include operatively engagingthe orthodontic bracket at 220. Methods 200 further includeelectronically determining a present orientation of the archwire slot at230 and displaying a displayed orientation of the archwire slot at 240.Methods 200 further may include generating a desired orientation signalat 250, receiving a desired orientation at 260, and/or displaying thedesired orientation at 270. Methods 200 further include adjusting theorientation of the archwire slot at 280 and may include locating anarchwire within the archwire slot at 290.

Removing the archwire from the archwire slot at 210 may include removingthe archwire from the archwire slot to permit and/or facilitate theoperatively engaging at 220 and/or the adjusting at 280. As an example,and prior to the operatively engaging at 220, the archwire may beremoved from the archwire slot to permit, or provide clearance for, anelectronic orthodontic adjustment tool to operatively engage thearchwire slot. As another example, and prior to the adjusting at 280,the archwire may be removed from the archwire slot to decrease a forcerequired to be applied during the adjusting at 280 and/or to provideclearance for the electronic orthodontic adjustment tool to perform theadjusting at 280.

However, this is not required. As an example, methods 200 alternativelymay include performing the operatively engaging at 220 and/or theadjusting at 280 while the archwire extends within the archwire slot(i.e., without performing the removing at 210).

Operatively engaging the orthodontic bracket at 220 may includeoperatively engaging the orthodontic bracket with an engagementstructure of the electronic orthodontic adjustment tool. The operativelyengaging at 220 may include directly and operatively engaging theorthodontic bracket. As an example, the operatively engaging may includedirectly and operatively engaging a body of the orthodontic bracket,which defines the archwire slot, and/or extending the engagementstructure into the archwire slot (i.e., directly and operativelyengaging the archwire slot). When the operatively engaging at 220includes extending the engagement structure into the archwire slot,methods 200 may include the removing at 210; however, this is notrequired.

The operatively engaging at 220 additionally or alternatively mayinclude directly and operatively engaging the engagement structure withthe archwire while the archwire extends within the archwire slot. Thismay include directly and operatively engaging the archwire to indirectlyand operatively engage the orthodontic bracket. When the operativelyengaging at 220 includes directly and operatively engaging the archwire,methods 200 may not include the removing at 210 and/or the archwire mayextend within the archwire slot during the operatively engaging at 220.

Electronically determining the present orientation of the archwire slotat 230 may include electrically determining an absolute orientation ofthe archwire slot, electronically determining the orientation of thearchwire slot relative to a reference orientation, and/or electronicallydetermining the orientation of the archwire slot at a given point intime. The given point in time may include and/or be a time at which theorientation of the archwire slot is determined and/or measured and/or atime at which the electronically determining is performed.

The electronically determining at 230 may be performed and/oraccomplished in any suitable manner. As an example, the electronicallydetermining at 230 may include receiving a current orientationindication signal with the electronic orthodontic adjustment tool. Thecurrent orientation indication signal may be indicative of theorientation of the archwire slot relative to the reference orientationat the given point in time. The receiving may include receiving thecurrent orientation indication signal from a transmitter. Thetransmitter may form a portion of the orthodontic bracket, and thecurrent orientation of the archwire slot may be determined by anorientation-determining structure of the orthodontic bracket.

Additionally or alternatively, the electronically determining at 230also may include electronically determining the present orientation ofthe archwire slot with the electronic orthodontic adjustment tool. As anexample, the electronic orthodontic adjustment tool may include anorientation-determining structure that may be utilized during, and/orthat may perform, the electronically determining at 230.

The electronically determining at 230 may include electronicallydetermining any suitable orientation and/or orientation parameter of theorthodontic bracket. As an example, the electronically determining at230 may include electronically determining a rotation of the archwireslot relative to a reference rotation. This may include electronicallydetermining the rotation about at least one, about at least two, and/orabout at least three rotational axes. The three rotational axes may beorthogonal to one another.

As another example, the electronically determining at 230 additionallyor alternatively may include electronically determining a translation ofthe archwire slot relative to a reference location. This may includeelectronically determining the translation of the archwire slot along atleast one translational axis, along at least two translational axes,and/or along at least three translational axes. The three translationalaxes may be orthogonal to one another and/or may correspond to the threerotational axes; however, this is not required.

It is within the scope of the present disclosure that the electronicallydetermining at 230 may include electronically determining in real-timeand/or electronically determining with at least a threshold repeatfrequency. Examples of the threshold repeat frequency includefrequencies of at least 0.2 Hz, at least 0.5 Hz, at least 1 Hz, at least2 Hz, at least 5 Hz, at least 10 Hz, at least 60 Hz, at least 100 Hz, atleast 250 Hz, at least 500 Hz, and/or at least 1000 Hz.

Displaying the displayed orientation of the archwire slot at 240 mayinclude displaying any suitable orientation, or orientation information,that is, or is indicative of, the orientation of the archwire slotand/or the orientation of the archwire slot relative to the referenceorientation. The displayed orientation may include, be, and/or be basedupon the present orientation that was determined during theelectronically determining at 230. Similar to the electronicallydetermining at 230, the displaying at 240 may include displaying inreal-time and/or displaying with at least the threshold repeat frequencyduring at least a portion of methods 200. This may include repeating thedisplaying at 240 a plurality of times during methods 200 and/orrepeating the displaying at 240 with at least the threshold repeatfrequency.

The displayed orientation may include and/or be any suitable orientationand/or any suitable parameter that is indicative of the presentorientation of the archwire slot. As an example, the displayedorientation may include and/or be the present orientation of thearchwire slot. As another example, the displayed orientation may includeand/or be an orientation difference, or orientation delta, that isindicative of a difference between the present orientation of thearchwire slot and a desired orientation of the archwire slot. As anotherexample, the displayed orientation may include and/or be an orientationdifference, or orientation delta, that is indicative of a differencebetween the present orientation of the archwire slot and an initialorientation of the archwire slot. The initial orientation of thearchwire slot may include and/or be an orientation of the archwire slotat the start of, or prior to performing, methods 200.

As additional examples, the displayed orientation may include and/or bea numerical value, an angle, and/or a distance. As examples, thedisplayed orientation may include and/or be a tip parameter that isindicative of a tip force that will be applied to the tooth by anarchwire for a given relative orientation of the archwire slot, a torqueparameter that is indicative of a torque force that will be applied tothe tooth by an archwire for a given relative orientation of thearchwire slot, and/or a rotation parameter that is indicative of arotation force that will be applied to the tooth by an archwire for agiven relative orientation of the archwire slot.

Additionally or alternatively, the displayed orientation also mayinclude and/or be an indicator that includes an aligned indication and amisaligned indication. Under these conditions, the displaying at 240 mayinclude displaying the aligned indication when the present orientationcorresponds to, or is, the desired orientation and displaying themisaligned indication when the present location does not correspond to,or is not, the desired orientation.

Generating the desired orientation signal at 250 may include generatingany suitable desired orientation signal that may be based upon, and/ormay be indicative of, the desired orientation of the archwire slot. Thismay include generating the desired orientation signal with an electronicdevice, which may form a portion of an orthodontic appliance system thatincludes the electronic orthodontic adjustment tool, and/or with theelectronic orthodontic adjustment tool. When methods 200 include thegenerating at 250, the adjusting at 280 may be, may be based upon,and/or may be based, at least in part, on the desired orientationsignal.

Receiving the desired orientation at 260 may include receiving anysuitable desired orientation with the electronic orthodontic adjustmenttool. As discussed, the desired orientation may include, may beindicative of, may correspond to, and/or may be a desired orientation ofthe archwire slot and/or the desired orientation of the archwire slotrelative to the reference orientation. When methods 200 include thereceiving at 260, the adjusting at 280 may include adjusting based, atleast in part, on the desired orientation that was received during thereceiving at 260.

The receiving at 260 may include receiving the desired orientation inany suitable manner. As an example, the receiving at 260 may includereceiving a manual user input with the electronic orthodontic adjustmenttool. As another example, the receiving at 260 may include receiving thedesired orientation signal that was generated during the generating at250. This may include receiving the desired orientation signal with theelectronic orthodontic adjustment tool and/or transmitting the desiredorientation signal from the electronic device to the electronicorthodontic adjustment tool subsequent to manual user input of thedesired orientation into the electronic device. Under these conditions,the electronic orthodontic adjustment tool may include a drivestructure, and the adjusting at 280 may include adjusting, with thedrive structure of the electronic orthodontic adjustment tool, based, atleast in part, on the desired orientation and/or on the desiredorientation signal.

As another example, the receiving at 260 additionally or alternativelymay include receiving the desired orientation and/or the desiredorientation signal with the orthodontic bracket. Under these conditions,the orthodontic bracket may include a drive structure and the adjustingat 280 may include adjusting, with the drive structure of theorthodontic bracket, based, at least in part, on the desired orientationand/or on the desired orientation signal.

Displaying the desired orientation at 270 may include displaying thedesired orientation in any suitable manner. As an example, thedisplaying at 270 may include displaying the desired orientation and/ora parameter that is indicative of the desired orientation on, with,and/or on a display of the electronic device. As another example, thedisplaying at 270 additionally or alternatively may include displayingthe desired orientation and/or a parameter that is indicative of thedesired orientation on, with, and/or on a display of the electronicorthodontic adjustment tool. As yet another example, the displaying at270 additionally or alternatively may include displaying with at leastthe threshold repeat frequency, which is discussed herein.

Adjusting the orientation of the archwire slot at 280 may includeadjusting based, at least in part, on the displayed orientation that isdisplayed during the displaying at 240 and/or on the desired orientationthat is displayed during the displaying at 270. This may includechanging the orientation of the archwire slot relative to the referenceorientation.

Additionally or alternatively, methods 200 may include utilizing acomputer and/or an algorithm to calculate and/or determine a targetorientation for the archwire slot. Under these conditions, the targetorientation for the archwire slot may be calculated and/or determinedbased, at least in part, on the electronically determining at 230 and/oron repeating the electronically determining at 230 for a plurality of,or even every, orthodontic bracket that is present within the patient'smouth. In addition, the adjusting at 280 may include adjusting such thatthe orientation of the archwire slot corresponds to, or is, the targetorientation of the archwire slot that was calculated and/or determinedby the computer and/or algorithm.

It is within the scope of the present disclosure that the adjusting at280 may be accomplished in any suitable manner. As an example, theadjusting at 280 may include electronically adjusting the orientation ofthe archwire slot, such as by utilizing a drive structure of theelectronic orthodontic adjustment tool and/or a drive structure of theorthodontic bracket. Under these conditions, methods 200 further mayinclude electrically providing a motive force for the adjusting at 280.The motive force may be electrically provided with the drive structureof the electronic orthodontic adjustment tool and/or with the drivestructure of the orthodontic bracket.

As another example, the adjusting at 280 additionally or alternativelymay include manually adjusting the orientation of the archwire slot.Under these conditions, methods 200 further may include manuallyproviding the motive force for the adjusting at 280 with the electronicorthodontic adjustment tool. As a more specific example, anorthodontist, a technician, and/or another operator may manually adjustthe orientation of the archwire slot while using the displayedorientation as feedback to indicate when the desired orientation for thearchwire slot has been reached.

Regardless of the exact mechanism, it is within the scope of the presentdisclosure that the adjusting at 270 may include adjusting with orwithout the archwire being received within the archwire slot. Inslightly different terms, the adjusting at 270 may be performed withoutan archwire in the archwire slot, such as by a previously insertedarchwire being removed from the archwire slot prior to the adjusting.However, it is not a requirement to all brackets, methods, tools, etc.according to the present disclosure that the archwire be removed priorto the adjusting, and in some embodiments, the adjusting may occur whilean archwire is present within the archwire slot, as discussed herein.

As discussed, methods 200 may, but are not required to, include removingthe archwire from the archwire slot at 210. When methods 200 include theremoving at 200, methods 200 further may include locating the archwirewithin the archwire slot at 290. This may include locating the archwirewithin the archwire slot to apply, or to initiate application of,prescriptive forces to the tooth to which the orthodontic bracket isattached. It is within the scope of the present disclosure that thelocating at 290 may include locating the archwire that was removedduring the removing at 210. Alternatively, the locating at 290 also mayinclude locating another, or a different, archwire within the archwireslot.

Methods 200 are discussed herein in the context of operatively engaging(at 220), electronically determining an orientation of (at 230),displaying the orientation of (at 240), and adjusting the orientation of(at 280) a single orthodontic bracket. However, and as discussed herein,a patient's mouth generally includes a plurality of orthodonticbrackets, each attached to a corresponding tooth, and which may beutilized as part of an overall orthodontic treatment plan. With this inmind, it is within the scope of the present disclosure that any suitableportion of methods 200 may be repeated, during a given orthodonticadjustment session, for a subset of the plurality of orthodonticbrackets, or even for every orthodontic bracket, that is present withinthe patient's mouth. This may include repeating at least the operativelyengaging at 220, the electronically determining at 230, the displayingat 240, and the adjusting at 280 for each of the subset of the pluralityof orthodontic brackets to adjust the prescription of each of the subsetof the plurality of orthodontic brackets as part of the overallorthodontic treatment plan. The subset of the plurality of orthodonticbrackets may include at least 2, at least 4, at least 6, at least 8, atleast 10, at least 12, at least 14, at least 16, at least 18, or atleast 20 orthodontic brackets.

Additionally or alternatively, orthodontic treatment plans generally areprogressive and/or sequential in nature, with a plurality of differentorthodontic adjustments, which are separated in time, being utilized toprogressively move one or more teeth from an initial occlusion to adesired, or final, occlusion. With this in mind, it is within the scopeof the present disclosure that methods 200 may be repeated to adjust agiven orthodontic bracket a plurality of times. As an example, methods200 may be performed a first time to provide a first, or initial,orientation of the archwire slot of the given orthodontic bracket.Subsequently, the archwire may be utilized to apply one or moreprescriptive forces to a given tooth to which the given orthodonticbracket is operatively attached for a first treatment time. Then,methods 200 may be repeated to provide a second orientation of thearchwire slot of the given orthodontic bracket. Subsequently, thearchwire may be utilized to apply one or more (different) prescriptiveforces to the given tooth for a second treatment time. This process maybe repeated any suitable number of times until the given tooth has beenmoved to the desired occlusion.

In the present disclosure, several of the illustrative, non-exclusiveexamples have been discussed and/or presented in the context of flowdiagrams, or flow charts, in which the methods are shown and describedas a series of blocks, or steps. Unless specifically set forth in theaccompanying description, it is within the scope of the presentdisclosure that the order of the blocks may vary from the illustratedorder in the flow diagram, including with two or more of the blocks (orsteps) occurring in a different order and/or concurrently. It is alsowithin the scope of the present disclosure that the blocks, or steps,may be implemented as logic, which also may be described as implementingthe blocks, or steps, as logics. In some applications, the blocks, orsteps, may represent expressions and/or actions to be performed byfunctionally equivalent circuits or other logic devices. The illustratedblocks may, but are not required to, represent executable instructionsthat cause a computer, processor, and/or other logic device to respond,to perform an action, to change states, to generate an output ordisplay, and/or to make decisions.

As used herein, the term “and/or” placed between a first entity and asecond entity means one of (1) the first entity, (2) the second entity,and (3) the first entity and the second entity. Multiple entities listedwith “and/or” should be construed in the same manner, i.e., “one ormore” of the entities so conjoined. Other entities may optionally bepresent other than the entities specifically identified by the “and/or”clause, whether related or unrelated to those entities specificallyidentified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, a reference to “A and/orB,” when used in conjunction with open-ended language such as“comprising” may refer, in one embodiment, to A only (optionallyincluding entities other than B); in another embodiment, to B only(optionally including entities other than A); in yet another embodiment,to both A and B (optionally including other entities). These entitiesmay refer to elements, actions, structures, steps, operations, values,and the like.

As used herein, the phrase “at least one,” in reference to a list of oneor more entities should be understood to mean at least one entityselected from any one or more of the entity in the list of entities, butnot necessarily including at least one of each and every entityspecifically listed within the list of entities and not excluding anycombinations of entities in the list of entities. This definition alsoallows that entities may optionally be present other than the entitiesspecifically identified within the list of entities to which the phrase“at least one” refers, whether related or unrelated to those entitiesspecifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, “at least oneof A and B” (or, equivalently, “at least one of A or B,” or,equivalently “at least one of A and/or B”) may refer, in one embodiment,to at least one, optionally including more than one, A, with no Bpresent (and optionally including entities other than B); in anotherembodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, B, withno A present (and optionally including entities other than A); in yetanother embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one,A, and at least one, optionally including more than one, B (andoptionally including other entities). In other words, the phrases “atleast one,” “one or more,” and “and/or” are open-ended expressions thatare both conjunctive and disjunctive in operation. For example, each ofthe expressions “at least one of A, B and C,” “at least one of A, B, orC,” “one or more of A, B, and C,” “one or more of A, B, or C” and “A, B,and/or C” may mean A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and Ctogether, B and C together, A, B and C together, and optionally any ofthe above in combination with at least one other entity.

In the event that any patents, patent applications, or other referencesare incorporated by reference herein and (1) define a term in a mannerthat is inconsistent with and/or (2) are otherwise inconsistent with,either the non-incorporated portion of the present disclosure or any ofthe other incorporated references, the non-incorporated portion of thepresent disclosure shall control, and the term or incorporateddisclosure therein shall only control with respect to the reference inwhich the term is defined and/or the incorporated disclosure was presentoriginally.

As used herein the terms “adapted” and “configured” mean that theelement, component, or other subject matter is designed and/or intendedto perform a given function. Thus, the use of the terms “adapted” and“configured” should not be construed to mean that a given element,component, or other subject matter is simply “capable of” performing agiven function but that the element, component, and/or other subjectmatter is specifically selected, created, implemented, utilized,programmed, and/or designed for the purpose of performing the function.It is also within the scope of the present disclosure that elements,components, and/or other recited subject matter that is recited as beingadapted to perform a particular function may additionally oralternatively be described as being configured to perform that function,and vice versa.

As used herein, the phrase, “for example,” the phrase, “as an example,”and/or simply the term “example,” when used with reference to one ormore components, features, details, structures, embodiments, and/ormethods according to the present disclosure, are intended to convey thatthe described component, feature, detail, structure, embodiment, and/ormethod is an illustrative, non-exclusive example of components,features, details, structures, embodiments, and/or methods according tothe present disclosure. Thus, the described component, feature, detail,structure, embodiment, and/or method is not intended to be limiting,required, or exclusive/exhaustive; and other components, features,details, structures, embodiments, and/or methods, including structurallyand/or functionally similar and/or equivalent components, features,details, structures, embodiments, and/or methods, are also within thescope of the present disclosure.

Examples of systems, brackets, tools, and methods according to thepresent disclosure are presented in the following enumerated paragraphs.It is within the scope of the present disclosure that an individual stepof a method recited herein, including in the following enumeratedparagraphs, may additionally or alternatively be referred to as a “stepfor” performing the recited action.

A1. An orthodontic bracket, comprising:

a base configured to be operatively affixed to a tooth that is presentwithin a patient's mouth;

a body that is configured to be selectively repositioned relative to thebase and at least partially defines an archwire slot that is shaped toreceive an archwire;

a retention structure configured to be selectively transitioned between:

-   -   (i) a locked configuration in which an orientation of the        archwire slot relative to a reference orientation is at least        substantially fixed; and    -   (ii) an unlocked configuration in which the retention structure        permits the orientation of the archwire slot relative to the        reference orientation to be adjusted;

optionally an orientation-determining structure configured to determinethe orientation of the archwire slot relative to the referenceorientation; and

optionally a transmitter configured to generate an orientationindication signal that is indicative of the orientation of the archwireslot relative to the reference orientation.

A1.1. The bracket of paragraph A1, wherein the body is configured forselective adjustment relative to the base.

A1.1.1 The bracket of any of paragraphs A1-A1.1, wherein the body isconfigured for selective rotation relative to the base about at leastone, optionally at least two, and further optionally at least threerotational axes.

A1.1.2 The bracket of any of paragraphs A1-A1.11, wherein the body isconfigured for selective translation relative to the base about at leastone, optionally at least two, and further optionally at least threetranslational axes.

A1.2. The bracket of paragraph A1 or A1.1.2, wherein the bracket furtherincludes an adjustment mechanism configured to selectively adjust theorientation of the body relative to the base and thereby adjust theorientation of the archwire slot relative to the base.

A1.3. The bracket of paragraph A1.2, wherein the retention structure isadapted to selectively restrict adjustment of the orientation of thebody relative to the base.

A2. The bracket of any of paragraphs A1-A1.3, wherein theorientation-determining structure includes a magnet (optionally aplurality of magnets) and a sensor configured to determine a location ofthe magnet (optionally the plurality of magnets) relative thereto todetermine the orientation of the archwire slot relative to the referenceorientation.

A3. The bracket of any of paragraphs A1-A2, wherein theorientation-determining structure includes a rotation-determiningstructure configured to determine a rotation of the body relative to thebase about at least one axis, optionally at least two axes, and furtheroptionally three axes, to determine the orientation of the archwire slotrelative to the reference orientation.

A4. The bracket of any of paragraphs A1-A3, wherein theorientation-determining structure includes a translation-determiningstructure configured to determine a translation of the body relative tothe base about at least one axis, optionally at least two axes, andfurther optionally three axes, to determine the orientation of thearchwire slot relative to the reference orientation.

A5. The bracket of any of paragraphs A1-A4, wherein the referenceorientation is defined relative to at least one of (i) the base, (ii)the tooth, (iii) a base of another bracket that is present within thepatient's mouth, (iv) another tooth that is present within the patient'smouth; and (v) another archwire slot that is defined by the otherbracket that is present within the patient's mouth.

A6. The bracket of any of paragraphs A1-A5, wherein the bracket definesa home position, and further wherein the reference orientation isdefined relative to, and optionally is, the home position.

A7. The bracket of paragraph A6, wherein the bracket further includes avisual indicator that indicates when the orthodontic bracket is in thehome position.

A8. The bracket of any of paragraphs A1-A7, wherein the transmitterincludes at least one of a wireless transmitter, a Bluetoothtransmitter, an RFID transmitter, an RFID tag, a digital transmitter, ananalog transmitter, and an optical transmitter.

A9. The bracket of any of paragraphs A1-A8, wherein the transmitter isconfigured to transmit the orientation indication signal to anelectronic device.

A9.1 The bracket of paragraph A9, wherein the electronic device includesat least one of a computer, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, atablet, a computerized orthodontic machine or system, a computingdevice, a handheld electronic device, a wearable electronic device, andan electronic orthodontic adjustment tool.

A9.2 The bracket of any of paragraphs A9-A9.1, wherein the transmitteris configured to wirelessly transmit the orientation indication signalto the electronic device.

A9.3 The bracket of any of paragraphs A9-A9.2, wherein the electronicdevice is configured to directly connect to the bracket, and furtherwherein the transmitter is configured to transmit a wired orientationindication signal to the electronic device.

A10. The bracket of any of paragraphs A1-A9.3, wherein the bracketfurther includes a receiver configured to receive an orientation controlsignal and a drive structure configured to selectively regulate theorientation of the archwire slot relative to the reference orientationbased, at least in part, on the orientation control signal.

A11. The bracket of any of paragraphs A1-A10, wherein the bracketfurther includes any suitable structure and/or feature disclosed in U.S.patent application Ser. No. 14/559,100 and/or in U.S. Patent ApplicationPublication No. 2014/0272751.

A12. The bracket of any of paragraphs A1-A11, wherein the bracketfurther includes a ligature configured to retain the archwire within thearchwire slot.

A12.1 The bracket of paragraph A12, wherein the ligature is operativelyattached to the bracket.

A12.2 The bracket of any of paragraphs A12-A12.1, wherein the bracket isa self-ligating bracket, and further wherein the ligature forms aportion of the bracket.

A13. An orthodontic appliance system, comprising:

the bracket of any of paragraphs A1-A12.2; and

an/the electronic device configured to receive the orientationindication signal from the bracket.

A13.1 The system of paragraph A13, wherein the electronic device isfurther configured to provide an/the orientation control signal to thebracket.

B1. An electronic orthodontic adjustment tool configured to selectivelyadjust an orientation of an archwire slot that is defined by anorthodontic bracket, which optionally is the orthodontic bracket of anyof paragraphs A1-A13.1, relative to a reference orientation while theorthodontic bracket is operatively attached to a patient's tooth, thetool comprising:

an engagement structure configured to operatively engage the orthodonticbracket to selectively adjust the orientation of the archwire slotrelative to the reference orientation;

an orientation-determining structure configured to electronicallydetermine the orientation of the archwire slot relative to the referenceorientation; and

an orientation indicator configured to indicate the orientation of thearchwire slot relative to the reference orientation.

B2. The tool of paragraph B1, wherein the tool includes an engagementindicator configured to selectively indicate when the tool is properlyengaged with the orthodontic bracket, optionally wherein the engagementindicator includes an engagement indicator LED, and further optionallywherein the engagement indicator includes an engagement transmitterconfigured to transmit an engagement indication signal responsive to thetool being properly engaged with the orthodontic bracket.

B3. The tool of any of paragraphs B1-B2, wherein the tool furtherincludes an orientation transmitter configured to generate anorientation indication signal, optionally wherein the orientationtransmitter includes at least one of a wireless transmitter and aBluetooth transmitter.

B4. The tool of paragraph B3, wherein the orientation transmitter isconfigured to transmit the orientation indication signal to anelectronic device that is associated with the electronic orthodonticadjustment tool.

B4.1 The tool of paragraph B4, wherein the electronic device includes atleast one of a computer, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, atablet, a computerized orthodontic machine or system, a computingdevice, a handheld electronic device, a wearable electronic device, andan electronic orthodontic adjustment tool.

B4.2 The tool of any of paragraphs B4-B4.1, wherein the transmitter isconfigured to wirelessly transmit the orientation indication signal tothe electronic device.

B4.3 The tool of any of paragraphs B4-B4.2 wherein the electronic deviceis configured to directly connect to the tool, and further wherein thetransmitter is configured to transmit a wired orientation indicationsignal to the electronic device.

B5. The tool of any of paragraphs B1-B4.3, wherein the orientationindicator includes a display that displays at least one, optionally atleast two, and further optionally all, of:

(i) a tip parameter that is indicative of a tip force that will beapplied to the tooth by an archwire for a given relative orientation ofthe archwire slot;

(ii) a torque parameter that is indicative of a torque force that willbe applied to the tooth by the archwire for the given relativeorientation of the archwire slot; and

(iii) a rotation parameter that is indicative of a rotational force thatwill be applied to the tooth by the archwire for the given relativeorientation of the archwire slot.

B6. The tool of any of paragraphs B1-B5, wherein the tool is configuredto receive an orientation control signal indicative of a desiredorientation of the archwire slot relative to the reference orientation,and further wherein the orientation indicator is configured to indicatewhen the archwire slot is at the desired orientation, and optionallywherein the orientation indicator includes an orientation indicator LED.

B7. The tool of any of paragraphs B1-B6, wherein the tool furtherincludes a drive structure configured to selectively regulate theorientation of the archwire slot relative to the reference orientation,optionally based at least in part on at least one of:

(i) a/the orientation indication signal;

(ii) a/the orientation control signal;

(iii) a comparison of the orientation indication signal to theorientation control signal; and

(iv) a comparison of a current orientation of the archwire slot relativeto the reference orientation to a/the desired orientation of thearchwire slot relative to the reference orientation.

B8. The tool of any of paragraphs B1-B7, wherein the engagementstructure is at least one of (i) a replaceable engagement structure,(ii) a removable engagement structure, (iii) an autoclavable engagementstructure, and (iv) a resilient engagement structure.

B9. The tool of any of paragraphs B1-B8, wherein the engagementstructure is configured to be inserted into the archwire slot todirectly and operatively engage the orthodontic bracket.

B10. The tool of any of paragraphs B1-B9, wherein the engagementstructure is configured to directly and operatively engage the archwire,while the archwire extends within the archwire slot, to indirectly andoperatively engage the orthodontic bracket.

B11. An orthodontic appliance system, comprising:

the tool of any of paragraphs B1-B10; and

the orthodontic bracket.

B12. The system of paragraph B11, wherein the orthodontic bracketincludes the orthodontic bracket of any of paragraphs A1-A12.2.

B13. The system of any of paragraphs B11-B12, wherein the orthodonticbracket is configured to provide an/the orientation indication signal tothe tool.

B14. The system of any of paragraphs B11-B13, wherein the system furtherincludes an/the electronic device configured to at least one of:

(i) receive an/the orientation indication signal from the orthodonticbracket;

(ii) receive the orientation indication signal from the tool;

(iii) provide an/the orientation control signal to the tool; and

(iv) provide the orientation control signal to the orthodontic bracket.

C1. A method of adjusting an orthodontic bracket that includes anarchwire slot while the orthodontic bracket is operatively attached to apatient's tooth, the method comprising:

operatively engaging the orthodontic bracket with an engagementstructure of an electronic orthodontic adjustment tool;

electronically determining a present orientation of the archwire slotrelative to a reference orientation at a given point in time;

displaying a displayed orientation of the archwire slot with theelectronic orthodontic adjustment tool, wherein the displayedorientation is based, at least in part, on the present orientation; andadjusting the orientation of the archwire slot relative to the referenceorientation based, at least in part, on the displaying.

C2. The method of paragraph C1, wherein the operatively engagingincludes directly and operatively engaging the engagement structure withthe orthodontic bracket, and optionally a body of the orthodonticbracket that defines the archwire slot.

C3. The method of any of paragraphs C1-C2, wherein the operativelyengaging includes extending the engagement structure within the archwireslot.

C4. The method of any of paragraphs C1-C3, wherein the operativelyengaging includes directly and operatively engaging the engagementstructure with an archwire that extends within the archwire slot toindirectly and operatively engage the orthodontic bracket.

C5. The method of any of paragraphs C1-C4, wherein the electronicallydetermining includes receiving a current orientation indication signal,which is indicative of the orientation of the archwire slot relative tothe reference orientation at the given point in time, with theelectronic orthodontic adjustment tool.

C5.1. The method of paragraph C5, wherein the receiving includesreceiving from a transmitter of the orthodontic bracket.

C6. The method of any of paragraphs C1-05, wherein the electronicallydetermining includes electronically determining with the electronicorthodontic adjustment tool, and optionally with anorientation-determining structure of the electronic orthodonticadjustment tool.

C7. The method of any of paragraphs C1-C6, wherein the electronicallydetermining includes electronically determining a rotation of thearchwire slot relative to a reference rotation, optionally about atleast one rotational axis, about at least two rotational axes, or aboutat least three rotational axes.

C8. The method of any of paragraphs C1-C7, wherein the electronicallydetermining includes electronically determining a translation of thearchwire slot relative to a reference location, optionally along atleast one translational axis, along at least two translational axes, oralong at least three translational axes.

C9. The method of any of paragraphs C1-C8, wherein the displayedorientation is the present orientation.

C10. The method of any of paragraphs C1-C9, wherein the displayedorientation is indicative of a difference between the presentorientation and a desired orientation of the archwire slot.

C11. The method of any of paragraphs C1-C10, wherein the displayedorientation is indicative of a difference between the presentorientation and an initial orientation.

C12. The method of any of paragraphs C1-C11, wherein the displayedorientation includes at least one of a numerical value, a distance, andan angle.

C13. The method of any of paragraphs C1-C12, wherein the displayedorientation includes an indicator that includes an aligned indicationand a misaligned indication, wherein the displaying includes displayingthe aligned indication when the present orientation corresponds to a/thedesired orientation of the archwire slot, and further wherein thedisplaying includes displaying the misaligned indication when thepresent orientation does not correspond to the desired orientation.

C14. The method of any of paragraphs C1-C13, wherein the adjustingincludes changing the orientation of the archwire slot relative to thereference orientation.

C15. The method of any of paragraphs C1-C14, wherein the adjustingincludes electronically adjusting.

C16. The method of any of paragraphs C1-C15, wherein the adjustingincludes manually adjusting.

C17. The method of any of paragraphs C1-C16, wherein the method includesproviding a motive force for the adjusting with the electronicorthodontic adjustment tool.

C18. The method of any of paragraphs C1-C17, wherein the method includesproviding a motive force for the adjusting with the orthodontic bracket.

C19. The method of any of paragraphs C1-C18, wherein the electronicallydetermining and the displaying include electronically determining anddisplaying in real-time, optionally wherein the method further includesrepeating the receiving and the displaying with at least a thresholdrepeat frequency of at least 0.2 Hz, at least 0.5 Hz, at least 1 Hz, atleast 2 Hz, at least 5 Hz, at least 10 Hz, at least 60 Hz, at least 100Hz, at least 250 Hz, at least 500 Hz, or at least 1000 Hz.

C20. The method of any of paragraphs C1-C19, wherein the method furtherincludes receiving a/the desired orientation with the electronicorthodontic adjustment tool, wherein the desired orientation isindicative of a desired orientation of the archwire slot relative to thereference orientation.

C20.1 The method of paragraph C20, wherein the receiving includesreceiving a manual user input.

C20.2 The method of any of paragraphs C20-C20.1, wherein the receivingincludes receiving a desired orientation signal.

C20.3 The method of any of paragraphs C20-C20.2, wherein the adjustingincludes adjusting based, at least in part, on the desired orientation.

C20.4 The method of any of paragraphs C20-C20.3, wherein the methodfurther includes displaying the desired orientation on the electronicorthodontic adjustment tool.

C20.5 The method of any of paragraphs C20-C20.4, wherein the methodfurther includes generating a/the desired orientation signal with theelectronic orthodontic adjustment tool, wherein the desired orientationsignal is based, at least in part, on the desired orientation.

C20.5.1 The method of paragraph C20.5, wherein the adjusting includesadjusting based, at least in part, on the desired orientation signal.

C20.5.2 The method of any of paragraphs C20.5-C20.5.1, wherein themethod further includes receiving the desired orientation signal withthe orthodontic bracket, wherein the orthodontic bracket includes adrive structure, and further wherein the adjusting includes adjustingwith the drive structure based, at least in part, on the desiredorientation signal.

C20.5.3 The method of any of paragraphs C20.5-C20.5.2, wherein themethod further includes receiving the desired orientation signal withthe electronic orthodontic adjustment tool, wherein the electronicorthodontic adjustment tool includes a drive structure, and furtherwherein the adjusting includes adjusting with the drive structure based,at least in part, on the desired orientation signal.

C21. The method of any of paragraphs C1-C20.5.3, wherein, prior to theadjusting, the method further includes removing an/the archwire from thearchwire slot.

C21.1 The method of paragraph C21, wherein, subsequent to the adjusting,the method further includes at least one of locating the archwire withinthe archwire slot and locating another archwire within the archwireslot.

C22. The method of any of paragraphs C1-C21.1, wherein the methodincludes performing the adjusting while an/the archwire extends withinthe archwire slot.

C23. The method of any of paragraphs C1-C22, wherein the orthodonticbracket includes the orthodontic bracket of any of paragraphs A1-A13.1.

C24. The method of any of paragraphs C1-C23, wherein the electronicorthodontic adjustment tool includes the electronic orthodonticadjustment tool of any of paragraphs B1-B14.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The systems, brackets, tools, and methods disclosed herein areapplicable to the dental and orthodontics industries.

It is believed that the disclosure set forth above encompasses multipledistinct inventions with independent utility. While each of theseinventions has been disclosed in its preferred form, the specificembodiments thereof as disclosed and illustrated herein are not to beconsidered in a limiting sense as numerous variations are possible. Thesubject matter of the inventions includes all novel and non-obviouscombinations and subcombinations of the various elements, features,functions and/or properties disclosed herein. Similarly, where theclaims recite “a” or “a first” element or the equivalent thereof, suchclaims should be understood to include incorporation of one or more suchelements, neither requiring nor excluding two or more such elements.

It is believed that the following claims particularly point out certaincombinations and subcombinations that are directed to one of thedisclosed inventions and are novel and non-obvious. Inventions embodiedin other combinations and subcombinations of features, functions,elements and/or properties may be claimed through amendment of thepresent claims or presentation of new claims in this or a relatedapplication. Such amended or new claims, whether they are directed to adifferent invention or directed to the same invention, whetherdifferent, broader, narrower, or equal in scope to the original claims,are also regarded as included within the subject matter of theinventions of the present disclosure.

1. An electronic orthodontic adjustment tool configured to selectivelyadjust an orientation of an archwire slot that is defined by anorthodontic bracket relative to a reference orientation while theorthodontic bracket is operatively attached to a patient's tooth, thetool comprising: an engagement structure configured to operativelyengage the orthodontic bracket to selectively adjust the orientation ofthe archwire slot relative to the reference orientation; and anorientation indicator configured to indicate an orientation of thearchwire slot relative to the reference orientation.
 2. The tool ofclaim 1, wherein the engagement structure includes a means foroperatively engaging the orthodontic bracket to selectively adjust theorientation of the archwire slot relative to the reference orientation.3. The tool of claim 1, wherein the orientation indicator includes ameans for electronically indicating the orientation of the archwire slotrelative to the reference orientation.
 4. The tool of claim 1, whereinthe tool further includes an orientation transmitter configured togenerate an orientation indication signal and transmit the orientationindication signal to an electronic device that is associated with thetool.
 5. The tool of claim 1, wherein the orientation indicator includesa display that displays at least one of: (i) a tip parameter that isindicative of a tip force that will be applied to the tooth by anarchwire for a given relative orientation of the archwire slot; (ii) atorque parameter that is indicative of a torque force that will beapplied to the tooth by the archwire for the given relative orientationof the archwire slot; and (iii) a rotation parameter that is indicativeof a rotational force that will be applied to the tooth by the archwirefor the given relative orientation of the archwire slot.
 6. The tool ofclaim 1, wherein the tool is configured to receive an orientationcontrol signal indicative of a desired orientation of the archwire slotrelative to the reference orientation, and further wherein theorientation indicator is configured to indicate when the archwire slotis at the desired orientation.
 7. The tool of claim 6, wherein the toolfurther includes a drive structure configured to adjust the orientationof the archwire slot to the desired orientation.
 8. The tool of claim 1,wherein the engagement structure is configured to be inserted into thearchwire slot to directly and operatively engage the orthodontic bracketto adjust the orientation of the archwire slot relative to the referenceorientation.
 9. The tool of claim 1, wherein the orthodontic bracketincludes a body, and further wherein the engagement structure isconfigured to engage at least one of a perimeter of the body of theorthodontic bracket, an edge of the body of the orthodontic bracket, asocket in the body of the orthodontic bracket, and a receiver in thebody of the orthodontic bracket to adjust the orientation of thearchwire slot relative to the reference orientation.
 10. The tool ofclaim 1, wherein the orientation of the archwire slot includes at leastone of a rotational position of the archwire slot, an axial position ofthe archwire slot, and a translational position of the archwire slot.11. The tool of claim 1, wherein the orthodontic bracket includes a basethat is configured to be operatively attached to the patient's tooth,and a body that includes the archwire slot, wherein the body isconfigured to be adjusted relative to the base to adjust the orientationof the archwire slot, and wherein the reference orientation is definedrelative to the base.
 12. The tool of claim 1, wherein the referenceorientation is defined relative to the patient's tooth to which theorthodontic bracket is operatively attached.
 13. The tool of claim 1,wherein the orientation indicator is configured to indicate anorientation difference between the orientation of the archwire slot anda desired orientation of the archwire slot.
 14. The tool of claim 1,wherein the orthodontic bracket includes a base that is configured to beoperatively attached to the patient's tooth, and a body that includesthe archwire slot, wherein the body is configured to be adjustedrelative to the base, and wherein the tool is configured to adjust anorientation of the body relative to the base to selectively adjust theorientation of the archwire slot relative to the reference orientation.15. The tool of claim 1, wherein the tool further includes an engagementindicator configured to indicate when the engagement structure isoperatively engaged with at least one of the orthodontic bracket and thearchwire slot.
 16. The tool of claim 1, further comprising anorientation-determining structure configured to determine theorientation of the archwire slot relative to the reference orientation.17. An orthodontic appliance system, comprising: the tool of claim 1;and the orthodontic bracket.
 18. An orthodontic appliance system,comprising: an orthodontic bracket, comprising: a base configured to beoperatively affixed to a tooth that is present within a patient's mouth;a body that is configured to be selectively repositioned relative to thebase and that at least partially defines an archwire slot that is shapedto receive an archwire; an electronic orthodontic adjustment toolconfigured to selectively adjust an orientation of the archwire slotrelative to a reference orientation while the bracket is operativelyaffixed to the tooth, wherein the electronic orthodontic tool comprises:an engagement structure including a means for operatively engaging theorthodontic bracket to selectively adjust the orientation of thearchwire slot relative to the reference orientation; an orientationtransmitter configured to generate an orientation indication signal thatis indicative of the orientation of the archwire slot relative to thereference orientation; and an electronic device configured to receivethe orientation indication signal, wherein the electronic deviceincludes a display, and wherein the display is configured to indicatethe orientation of the archwire slot relative to the referenceorientation based on the orientation indication signal.
 19. The systemof claim 18, wherein the display is configured to indicate when thearchwire slot is in a desired orientation relative to the referenceorientation.
 20. An orthodontic bracket, comprising: a base configuredto be operatively affixed to a tooth that is present within a patient'smouth; a body that is configured to be selectively repositioned relativeto the base and at least partially defines an archwire slot that isshaped to receive an archwire; a retention structure configured to beselectively transitioned between: (i) a locked configuration in which anorientation of the archwire slot relative to a reference orientation isat least substantially fixed; and (ii) an unlocked configuration inwhich the retention structure permits the orientation of the archwireslot relative to the reference orientation to be adjusted; and atransmitter configured to generate an orientation indication signal thatis indicative of the orientation of the archwire slot relative to thereference orientation.
 21. The orthodontic bracket of claim 20, whereinthe orientation indication signal is configured to be received by anelectronic device that includes a display configured to provide anindication of the orientation of the archwire slot relative to thereference orientation based on the orientation indication signal.